Intro A while ago I set out to build a solar lamp that can work all the time, especially in the dark winter months. After a while I realized that there is already some version of it in my home. So now it’s time for part 3 SOLVINDEN skeleton, new insides Step 1 – beef up the solar panels: 2 pieces of 6V 133mA each Step 2 – assemble the led head Step 3 –… Continue reading
After finding out that 2 old SOLVINDEN lamps died because of a faulty switch and fixing them, I was curious how does the battery hold up after so many years. Ikea recommends to replace the battery after 2 years, but I never did. All the batteries in the lamp are made in China, but the batteries they sell in the store are made in Japan, so they are different. So let’s put them to the… Continue reading
Intro A while ago I set out to build a solar lamp that can work all the time, especially in the dark winter months. Using real solar production data and a simple excel model, I was able to figure out combinations of battery and solar cells that would be able to power the LED in a SOLVINDEN lamp through the dark winter months. But in my laziness, i never ended up building it. Until I… Continue reading
Intro For a while now, I started replacing the dead AA(A) batteries in my sensor nodes with rechargeable NiMH ones. So, since these batteries are rechargeable, I thought, why not trying adding small solar panels for sensor nodes, where light is abundant. Node 27: outside sensor Purpose: outside temperature, humidity, light, pressure sensor. Powered by 2 x AAA 500mAh from Ikea. The solar cell is rated 3V, 125mA and is pointing vertically south and costs… Continue reading
Update after 3 months The UPS is functioning as it should, and I think the solution is viable as a simple, low cost UPS where it is needed. It was a good mind and build exercise, but there are two reasons why I am not keeping it: First – realistically speaking, electricity fails way too seldom to actually use it. Second, unless I build one of these for each room, I will always have to… Continue reading
Intro I have used 2 types of LED torches: regulated and unregulated. The unregulated ones are the most common and they use some simple circuits for the LEDs, which means that as the battery discharges the light output gets lower. The regulated ones use some circuit to maintain a constant current flow as the battery discharges, for as much as possible. What about the Energizer hard case pro pivot plus? This is an odd one.… Continue reading